The festival, honoring Saint Joseph, sees three million
visitors descend upon a city of one million to dance, celebrate
the beginning of Spring, drink sangria in the streets and watch
a bunch of things burn. Among the sculptural ‘sacrifices’ are
traditionally a series of giant ‘ninots’ (puppets or dolls)
including satirical figures. This year, it was Donald Trump,
Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un. Just before midnight on ‘La
Crema,’ the last day of the festival, the crowds begin changing
and the streetlights are turned off before fireworks explode
and everything is set ablaze.

Asked by
El Periodico before the festival whether he was ready to
see the piece burn, Okuda said, “No I’m
not. I think I’m going to have a sentimental craze,
because it’s the most amazing piece I’ve done in 3D and I’m
freaking out with every piece that comes out. I’m going to
cry. With the cool thing that we have built, I’m sure I
will not understand very well that it’s going to burn, but I
think the millions of people who are around this and who have
such a strong feeling will make me understand.”

“This is one of the great traditional festivals of Spain
because, to start, it’s art, it’s not just bulls running and I
do not know what. Fallas are constructions that artisans
make for a year and with a history of more than a
century. I find it incredible.”